She gave me a sheepish smile. “The east wing, Your Highness.”
“And there?” I said, pointing down a long hall.
“That leads to the conservatory, and if you go all the way to the end, the domal stables.”
Our tapping steps continued, and I grilled her on everything about the palace as she led me down the myriad of hallways.
I asked about the size of the wings, whose wing was where, if there were areas of the palace that were off-limits to me or other guests, which rooms were considered private versus those used for entertaining or courtly political meetings, and so forth.
Betsee answered readily, but her cheeks were flushed by the time we turned down my new area of residence. “I shall endeavor to find you a map, my lady. I’m sure it will explain everything better than I ever could.”
I smiled genuinely. “That would be lovely. I do adore a good map.” And to think, the last one I’d looked at had been a constellation map that had ultimately played a hand in me finding the Wishing Stone.
“Ah, here we are.” Betsee waved toward a new hallway with her free two hands since the other two still carried the laundry basket. “Right this way. Your wing is around the bend ahead.”
A common area lay directly in our path, and beyond it were five large hallways stretching out like a pentacle. Betsee explained that each hall was owned by one royal.
My forehead furrowed in confusion. “You mean, my parents don’t share a wing?”
“Oh no, they do. Two of the wings have been empty for as long as I’ve worked here, except now, one is to be filled by you.”
We approached the common area, and loud voices came from one of the other halls that wasn’t part of the private royal wings. Six siltenite males were walking together, loudly discussing some kind of business from the sounds of it, yet when they spotted me, they all stopped.
“So it’s true!” one of them remarked. He looked older than a thousand summers, given his gray hair, wrinkles around his eyes, and pale skin that looked rather sallow. “Princess Primelle has returned from the dead.”
The other males all stared at me.
I froze, rooting to the spot. At my back, Kole growled quietly and came to stand directly at my side, his large body blocking me slightly from view.
“And she has an Imperial Warrior with her.” The same older male clapped and then laughed. “Stars and galaxies. I thought it was all rumors, and the king was having a good laugh just now at the council meeting, but here she is, and in the flesh no doubt.”
I drew myself up as tall as I could. “I’m sorry, but who might you be?”
The male dipped his head. “Pardon me, Your Highness.” His apology sounded genuine, but it wasn’t lost on me that his gaze flicked to my wrist, right where the glowing blue cuff encircled it. His shoulders relaxed more, and he bustled toward me, his arm reaching out for a formal handshake.
Kole instantly blocked his path. “No touching.”
The male’s eyes widened. “You cannot be serious? Do you know who I am?”
“Of course, Lordling Fillingmore.” Kole didn’t miss a beat. “You’re the head of House Fillingmore, married to Lady Wisim, father to three siltenites: two lordlings, named Arin and Caudral, and one lady named Filameena. Your children are grown, and all reside in Whiteolf. You’ve been the head of your House for nearly two hundred summers, ever since King Russem took favor upon you at that time and assigned you as a House leader, and given your current status, you also sit on the king’s council. Did I get everything right?”
For a moment, the lordling gaped, and my jaw dropped too. I knew Kole was intelligent, but it seemed he was also educated.
Behind Lordling Fillingmore, the other five males all watched their exchange avidly, but Betsee looked so uncomfortable that she’d plastered herself to the wall.
Lordling Fillingmore laughed quietly. “So you’ve memorized some history, very good. Yet despite knowing who I am and the important positions I hold, you still guard her from me?”
“Of course,” Kole replied.
Lord Fillingmore’s lips thinned. “That’s rather insulting, don’t you think?”
Kole’s expression remained impassive. “Someone wishes to harm the princess. Who’s to say it’s not you? Or one of the other House leaders behind you? I wouldn’t consider my unwillingness to put her in potential harm’s way insulting. I would call that prudent. Surely, you agree, my lordling? Surely, you value her life as much as I do?”
Even though Kole’s words sounded polite, his tone was anything but. Power rose in his aura, and he stared at the House leader as though he was seconds away from enacting his warrior affinity and slicing his head off.
Lordling Fillingmore’s throat bobbed. “Goodness, when did the palace become so hostile?” He laughed lightly, and the others behind him joined in.
Yet Kole’s stance didn’t falter, and he didn’t back down.
